Performance Concept Kick Starts Driving Enthusiasts' Hearts• World debut of high-performance Soul-based concept• Aggressive design, all-wheel drive and 250 horsepower make for a driver's dreamCHICAGO, February 8, 2012 – What happens when a dream becomes reality? In thecase of the Kia Track'ster concept unveiled at today's Chicago Auto Show, carenthusiasts begin to salivate. Amid the driving rhythm of heavy-metal music, smoke andblinding lights, Kia Motors America (KMA) took the wraps off a performance-orientedthree-door Soul coupe concept that hints at what could possibly be the future of Kia'swildly successful Soul."The idea was to make the Track'ster tough looking, like a bulldog," said Tom Kearns,chief designer for KMA. "But the car had to be approachable as well. We wanted tobase the car in reality so people instantly knew it was a Soul, but with a lot of attitude. Ithad to be a bold interpretation that would change people's conceptions of what a sportyKia could be."Mission accomplished.The bold attitude Kearns refers to starts with the eye-catching Whiteout and InfernoOrange paint scheme. While the white portrays complex layers and shades thatcontribute to dramatic depth, the orange is perfectly suited for racing. Kia's signaturegrille features an air intake slit and is trimmed in lightweight carbon ﬁber. Smoothlyintegrated head lights sweep back suggestively over the sculpted front-wheel arches.The deeply recessed lenses echo the trapezoid themes found throughout the Track'sterand are accented with compelling LEDs.Most striking up front is the Track'ster's lower intake grille. Flanked by immense LEDdriving lights with billet aluminum surrounds, the Track'ster is capable of swallowingprodigious amounts of air to keep the engine running cool even under the most gruelingconditions. The lower valance, trimmed in carbon ﬁber and accented with InfernoOrange, rides just inches off the ground and lends to the car's menacing stance.The Track'ster is not just another pretty face; it has a body to match. Sculpted surfacesseem to ﬂow into each other naturally. The ﬂanks are smooth but accented with well-deﬁned wheel enclosures. Tucked beneath the Track'ster's hips are custom HRE-K1monoblock billet performance wheels that were a joint effort of Kia's California designteam and HRE. The wheels are wrapped in 245/40-19-inch front and massive285/35-19-inch rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 high-performance tires. The wheelbase onthe concept is stretched to 101.2 inches, almost an inch longer than the productionSoul. As expected on a car with the Track'ster's performance intentions, large 14-inch

Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes are embraced by six-piston calipers infront and 13.6-inch discs are paired with four-piston calipers at the rear.Soul fans will instantly recognize the Track'ster's angled roof, accented with InfernoOrange. Closer inspection reveals this concept, while Soul inspired, is missing theproduction car's rear doors. The front doors have been lengthened and adorned withsmooth billet push-style handles which echo the racing-inspired billet fuel ﬁller door.Carbon ﬁber lower side valances also are accented in Inferno Orange and incorporatefunctional rear-brake cooling ducts. The back hatch incorporates a horizontal InfernoOrange "backpack" panel that accentuates the Track'ster's 75.5-inch width, which ismore than ﬁve inches wider than a production Soul.With performance as the top priority, the Track'ster rolls into Chicago with a conceptdrivetrain sure to kick start any driving enthusiast's heart. KMA's design team dreamedbig, but also kept their vision ﬁrmly rooted in reality. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine pumps 250 horsepower to the pavement, a 66 percent increase overthat of the production Soul. Power is routed to all four wheels via an electronicallycontrolled four-wheel-drive system. The short-throw six-speed manual transmission iscapped with a stubby spherical shift lever. The Track'ster rides on a lowered sportsuspension tuned for track performance.Opening the driver's door reveals a light and airy interior highlighted with deeplybolstered Inferno Orange suede-covered racing seats. Granite Gray leather envelopesthe interior landscape and imparts a feeling of strength and stability. Granite Gray suedewraps the sport steering wheel and door panels. Located deep within red-glowingnacelles, the primary instruments are large and easily readable. Auxiliary vehicleinformation such as oil temperature and battery voltage is found atop the dash panelwhile navigation, entertainment and HVAC controls are accessed through a large touch-screen panel located just above the engine Start/Stop push-button.Behind the front seats is where Track'ster takes a signiﬁcant step away from its Soulstable mate. The rear seats have been removed and replaced with a fully integratedequipment tray and spare-tire well. "We saw the Track'ster as a performance-inspiredconcept that could spend time on the road and racetrack," said Kearns. "The idea wasto make the tools and equipment necessary to keep the car performing in top conditioneasily accessible." Large paneled bins stow racing gear such as helmets, suits, glovesand tools while emergency supplies are housed within a separate and highly visibleInferno Orange container. A custom rear strut brace incorporates a quick-release handleto allow for fast wheel changes.While there are no current plans to produce the Track'ster, Kia's California design centerteam enthusiastically took on the project. "Concept cars are icing on the cake," saidKearns. "They allow KMA's design team to dream about what could be. Whether thatdream becomes a reality or not is a separate question."